*France imposes own digital tax as EU initiave stalled. PARIS, Sept 12- Google agreed to pay close to 1 billion euros to French authorities to settle a fiscal fraud probe that began four years ago in a deal that may create a legal precedent for other large tech companies present in the country. "to settle once for all these past disputes," said Antonin Levy, one of...

BRUSSELS, Sept 10- With few options left to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to achieve his goal of taking Britain out of the EU on Oct. 31, officials in Brussels say that he may need to go back to the idea of a so-called Northern Ireland- only backstop to get a Brexit deal done. *The backstop is meant to preserve the seamless border on the island of Ireland- the only future land...

*Bill blocking Oct. 31 no-deal exit becomes law. LONDON, Sept 9- Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he would not request an extension to Brexit, hours after a law came into force demanding that he delay Britain's departure from the European Union until 2020 unless he can strike a divorce deal. Johnson appeared to have lost control of Britain's withdrawal...

*Bill blocking Oct. 31 no-deal exit becomes law. LONDON, Sept 9- Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday he would not request an extension to Brexit, hours after a law came into force demanding he delay Britain's departure from the European Union until 2020 unless he can strike a divorce deal. Johnson appeared to have lost control of Britain's withdrawal from...

BRUSSELS, Sept 9- As frustration with Britain's Brexit crisis boils over across Europe, France and the Netherlands have raised the prospect that the European Union might reject a request by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to extend the divorce deadline from Oct. 31. But while patience is wearing thin in capitals of the EU's 27 other members, few believe it is likely...

*Ireland says: We want specifics and have had none. *Bill blocking Oct. 31 no-deal exit becomes law. LONDON, Sept 9- A bill demanding that Prime Minister Boris Johnson delay Britain's withdrawal from the EU on Oct. 31 if he cannot get a divorce deal became law on Monday but his office insisted that Brexit would happen by that date, "no ifs and buts."

*Ireland says: We want specifics and have had none. Ireland warns Johnson about clean break rhetoric. DUBLIN/ LONDON, Sept 9- Ireland told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday that he must make specific proposals on the future of Irish border if there is to be any hope of averting a no-deal Brexit, saying Dublin cannot not rely on simple promises.

*PM Johnson to meet Irish PM Varadkar in Dublin. LONDON, Sept 9- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will try for a second time on Monday to call a snap election, but is set to be thwarted once more by opposition lawmakers who want to ensure he cannot take Britain out of the European Union without a divorce agreement. It means that, three years after Britain voted to...

LONDON, Sept 9- Ireland would be in favour of extending the October 31 deadline for Britain to leave the European Union to mitigate possible risks to the Northern Irish peace process and damage to its economy, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said on Monday. "I think it would be reasonable to say that from our point of view we would be in favour of an extension that...

LONDON, Sept 9- Ireland would be in favor of extending the October 31 deadline for Britain to leave the European Union to mitigate possible risks to the Northern Irish peace process and damage to its economy, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said on Monday. "I think it would be reasonable to say that from our point of view we would be in favor of an extension that...

LONDON, Sept 8- Prime Minister Boris Johnson is sticking to his Brexit plan and will not seek a delay to Britain's departure from the European Union at a summit next month, two ministers said on Sunday despite the latest resignation from his government. Johnson's strategy to leave "do or die" by that deadline has been shaken by the events of recent days, which have...

He says he is making progress in talks to rework the terms that his predecessor Theresa May agreed with the EU but failed to pass at home- but European diplomats say London has yet to make any meaningful proposals. Diplomats and officials told Reuters EU negotiator Michel Barnier had informed envoys from the 27 other member states in Brussels on Wednesday that...

Johnson is pushing for a parliamentary election after the House of Commons blocked his bid to take Britain out of the EU on Oct. 31- with or without a divorce settlement. He says he is making progress in talks to rework the terms that his predecessor Teresa May agreed with the EU but failed to pass at home- but European diplomats say London has yet to make any...

*UK scheduled to leave European Union on Oct. 31. LONDON, Sept 3- British lawmakers defeated Boris Johnson in parliament on Tuesday in a bid to prevent him taking Britain out of the EU without a divorce agreement, prompting the prime minister to announce that he would immediately push for a snap election. More than three years after the United Kingdom voted in a...

*UK scheduled to leave European Union on Oct. 31. LONDON, Sept 3- A cross-party alliance defeated Prime Minister Boris Johnson in parliament on Tuesday in a bid to prevent him taking Britain out of the EU without a divorce agreement- a move that the government warned would thrust Britain towards an October snap election. More than three years after the United...